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At His Best

"... I'll go mend all my shattered dreams ..."

A compilation album released in Australia and New Zealand only.

Artwork | Tracks | Releases | Comments | Sleeve Notes | Lyrics | Chords

At His Best [LP] 1977

At His Best (Cassette) [1977]

At His Best (LP back cover) [1977]

At His Best (LP) [1986]

At His Best (Cassette) [1986]

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Track List

1. Crucify Your Mind (2.28)
   from Cold Fact
2. Sugar Man (3.45)
   from Cold Fact
3. Sandrevan Lullaby (6.35) see comments
   from Coming From Reality
4. Inner City Blues (3.23)
   from Cold Fact
5. Can't Get Away (3.53)
6. I Wonder (2.30)
   from Cold Fact
7. I'll Slip Away (2.50)
8. Street Boy (3.43)
9. Cause (5.24)
   from Coming From Reality
10. Jane S Piddy (2.51)
    from Cold Fact
11. Establishment Blues (2.04) see comments
    from Cold Fact

Total time: 40.10 (All track times taken from CD)

The Best Of Rodriguez album released in 1982 in South Africa has exactly the same tracks, in the same order, but with a completely different cover.

The Best Of Rodriguez (South Africa) [1982]

Releases

This album was first released in June 1977 on Blue Goose Music (The actual disc credits Blue Beat Records & Promotions, a subsidiary of Blue Goose Music). The catalogue number was BGM-1001. It reached #28 on the Australian album charts.

At His Best (LP) [1977] on Blue Beat label

New Zealand: I have 'At his best' as well as 'Cold Fact'. Both are virtually in mint condition as I've maybe played them 3 or 4 times between the both of them. They are distributed by Festival records in New Zealand. 'At his best' 1977, Interfusion, L 36338 and 'Cold Fact' 1978, Interfusion, L34226, SMX 38229 (SXBS-7000), 1978 A&M RECORDS, Sussex... Licensed by Blue Goose Music Pty Ltd. Both distributed by Festival Records (NZ) Ltd Auckland

Cliff, New Zealand, August 2000

It was re-issued in 1986, this time on BMG Arista (Ariola) with cat. number BGM 001.
In 1993 RCA Australia (distributed by BMG) released the CD on cat. no. VPCD6748.

Comments

• Sandrevan Lullaby
  The full title of this track is actually Sandrevan Lullaby - Lifestyles. "Sandrevan Lullaby" is the instrumental intro section and "Lifestyles" is the biting commentary piece about life in America. Read more on the "Coming From Reality" page.
  
  
• Establishment Blues
  Full title: "This Is Not A Song, It's An Outburst: Or The Establishment Blues"
  
  
• The album cover is a collage of the images from Cold Fact and Coming From Reality (i.e. The Bubble and The Steps). It is also very similar to After The Fact, the South African only re-issue of Coming From Reality released in 1976.

  
  After The Fact (South Africa 1976)

• The 3 previously unreleased tracks ("Can't Get Away", "I'll Slip Away" and "Street Boy") were recorded in 1972.

  "I'll Slip Away" was released as a single by Impact Records in August 1967 and credited to Rod Riguez (composed by Sixto D. Rodriguez). Released on The Best Of Impact Records CD (Collectables COL-5883) in November 1997. The version on the "At His Best" album is the 1972 re-recording.

  
  The Best Of Impact Records

• The original LP included a lyric sheet with some errors. No lyrics were included with the 1993 CD re-issue. Selecting the song titles will take you to the lyrics pages.

Sleeve notes from LP back cover (omitted from CD cover)

This album contains the only available recordings of a unique singer/songwriter: Rodriguez.
Five songs (six actually) originated on his first album "Cold Fact", three (two) came from his second album "Coming From Reality", and three have never previously appeared on record. Both Rodriguez's earlier albums are now completely unavailable and much sought-after collector's items, and the man himself has chosen to drop from the public view. Nevertheless, the demand for his music continues unabated. Hear why for yourself.